impossibility of getting to
Sandgale that evening when Tom came into the room.

"Where is mother?" he asked. "She has kept her cab at the door at least
ten minutes; I had to give the fellow an extra sixpence."

"That wasn't auntie's cab," said Erica, "she came home half an hour ago;
it was Rose's cab. I hope you didn't send away her boxes?"

"I beg your pardon," said Tom, looking much surprised and a little
amused. "The boxes are safe in the hall, but I'm afraid the cab is gone
beyond recall."

"You see it is evidently meant that I should quarter myself upon you!"
said Rose, laughing.

Upon which Raeburn, with a grave and slightly repressive courtesy, said
they should be very happy if she would stay with them.

"That will make my adventure perfect!" said Rose, her eyes dancing.

At which Raeburn smiled again, amused to think of the uneventful life in
which such a trifling incident could seem an "adventure."

"It seems very inhospitable," said Erica, "but don't you think, Rose,
you had better go back to Greyshot?"

"No, you tiresome piece of prudence, I don't," said Rose perversely.
"And what's more, I won't, as Uncle Luke has asked me to stay."

Erica felt very uncomfortable; she could have spoken decidedly had she
been alone with any of the three, but she could not, before them all,
say: "Mr. Fane-Smith thinks father an incarnation of wickedness and
would be horrified if he knew that you were here."

Tom had in the meantime walked to the window and drawn aside the
curtain.

"The weather means to settle the question for you," he said. "You really
can't go off in such a fog as this; it would take you hours to get to
Paddington, if you ever did get there, which is doubtful."

They looked out and saw that he had not exaggerated matters; the fog had
grown much worse since Rose's arrival, and it had been bad enough then
to make traveling by no means safe. Erica saw that there was no help
for it. Mr. Fane-Smith's anger must be incurred, and Rose must stay with
them. She went away to see that her room was prepared, and coming back a
little later found that in that brief time Rose had managed to enthrall
poor Tom who, not being used to the genus, was very easily caught, his
philosophy being by no means proof against a fair-haired, bright-looking
girl who in a very few moments made him feel that she thought most
highly of him and cared as no one had ever cared before for his opinion.
She had not the smallest int